#he’s on there advocating for lgbtq+ youth you KNOW HE IS | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

harpsthings · 1 year

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Modern AU where Dustin is a teenage youtuber who decides to do a stream marathon playing insanely old video games to raise money for a charity for LGBTQ+ youth Nancy and Robin had started about a year back.

He does it out of spite because well known internet radical douchebag known by his internet handle Vecna keeps trying to ruin the charity.

Dustin doesn’t expect it to raise more than a few thousand because, while some of his videos had popped off, he wasn’t nearly famous enough to do as much as he wanted. He keeps going anyways because any money is good money.

His legal guardian Steve keeps popping in and out to check on him and bring him snacks despite Dustin telling him not to. His presence quickly becomes a meme among his viewers and helps boost Dustin’s viewership and donations a bit.

Realizing this, Dustin drags Steve in to join him. At first Steve is annoyed, but when he realizes what Dustin is doing this for he is all for it. They end up switching off the controller all the while talking about the struggles of being queer, especially in a small town. Steve also talks about his efforts to adopt another queer kid he has been looking after (Max) and how much of a struggle the system is.

A clip of Steve and Dustin tearing up about becoming each other’s family, especially when Steve never had one who accepted him ends up leaving the circle of people in the know on Twitter and gets roasted by a queerphobic troll.

Dustin sees this and gets angry on Steve’s behalf (despite Steve telling him not to pay attention to that stuff), but while he’s scrolling he sees that the guy was ratio’d, absolutely destroyed, by a verified user.

That user? The famous openly queer rockstar and advocate Eddie Munson.

Dustin is hyped and sees this as his chance to get the stream more traction. While Steve is yelling at Donkey Kong, Dustin publicly invites Eddie on the stream.

To Dustin’s delight, Eddie replies almost instantaneously with a resounding yes. They work on setting him up and Eddie promotes the stream. Once he’s in the views and donations quickly get out of control.

Steve, who had been paying attention solely to Donkey Kong, is in shock when he hears his old classmate (and longtime hopeless crush) Eddie Munson over the call and sees his face on Dustin’s second monitor. Eddie greets him with a warm “Hey, Stevie” and Steve’s resulting expression becomes an instant classic gif.

Dustin asks how they know each other and Steve stutters through an answer that sounds vaguely like “I was a douche to him in high school but he’s always been super cool sorry Eddie for being a douche in high school”. Eddie replies that it’s water under the bridge and that he’s glad Steve seems to be more comfortable in his own skin now.

For the first little while, it’s mostly Dustin interviewing Eddie and them both cheering when they break goal after goal while Steve grits his teeth through Super Mario, interjecting when he has time to breathe.

But soon Dustin gets exhausted and Steve forces him to sleep. Dustin only does once Steve promises not to mess anything up and Eddie promises to stay. When Dustin leaves and he and Steve exchange “I love you”s the whole audience descends into “awwws” and screeches. No matter what happens after this, Steve and Dustin are now internet famous brothers.

Once Dustin is asleep, Steve and Eddie decide to play a casual multiplayer game and just chat. What starts off as casual flirting quickly turns into a deep emotional discussion about how their lives have gone and how they’ve changed as people.

Eddie admits that he used to have a crush on Steve in high school but he likes how Steve is now a lot better. Steve breaks down at that, from the exhaustion and emotion, saying that he hated himself as a teenager and how he wants to make the world safer for people like Dustin, especially from people like him.

Eddie tells him that he was never an evil person, just a scared kid, and that he can see that Steve is making the world better already, just from the way he interacts with Dustin and the kind of advice he gives to the chat. Steve laughs wetly through his tears and says he probably needs a break.

They get in contact with Robin and Nancy and set them up on stream so Steve and Eddie can take a break. Robin and Nancy are ecstatic about all the donations they are getting and answer chat questions about themselves and their charity. They also invite other queer creators and members of the audience to come on stream, chat, and promote their own charities and fundraisers.

Eddie ends up calling Steve while they are on break and they have a soft conversation until Steve falls asleep. Steve thanks Eddie for helping Dustin and the charity and Eddie responds that in these short few hours they’ve helped him just as much, sweetheart.

The last thing Steve mumbles out is that his crush on Eddie never stopped. On the other side of the country, Eddie is blinking at his phone as he processes what Steve said. Once he does, a grin spreads across his face and he makes a promise to himself to not let this chance go.

Steve wakes abruptly a few hours later to Dustin and Max’s incoherent screams. He grabs his nail bat and runs into the office where Dustin usually streams, prepared for anything. He once more becomes a classic gif, his messed up hair and crazed expression (not to mention his fucking nail bat, who has a nail bat?) reposted endlessly.

He is simultaneously relieved and annoyed that they were only screaming about the amount of donations they’ve gotten for the charity. Steve grumbles and drops the bat as the voices of Robin, Nancy, Jonathan, Argyle, and Eddie greet him from the computer. He loudly says that he’s going to go shower and marches out.

While he’s in the shower, Steve remembers what he said to Eddie the night prior. The resulting “FUCKING SHIT” can be heard over the stream. When he gets back to the room and sits behind his kids, hair perfectly coiffed, he says that he simply slipped in the shower. No one believes him.

The stream continues for hours until the only ones left are Eddie, Steve, Max, and Dustin. They’re beginning to wind things down when Max loudly sighs at Eddie and Steve’s heart eyes and flirtations, remarking that they had either “ask each other out or stop making her sick”.

Steve flushes and fails to stutter out an answer, but Eddie (a little rosy himself) scoffs that he “was going to do it away from prying eyes, Red, but if you insist...”

“Steve Harrington, would you to me the honor of going on a date with me?”

“Wh- I- Uh- Aren’t you thousands of miles away right now?”

“Actually, I already bought plane tickets.”

“You don’t have a private jet?”

“They’re terrible for the environment, Red, of course I don’t. Anyways, I don’t want to pressure you in front of all these people, Stevie, but I lied earlier.”

“You lied?”

“I said I used to have a crush on you, but it never really went away. Honestly, it’s gotten a helluva lot stronger in the past 48 hours, sweetheart, but say the word and I’ll never bug you about it again.”

“No! No, I don’t want that, Eds. Please bug me about it. All the time, if you want, cause I’ve got a crush on you, too.”

“So you’re saying I don’t have to refund these tickets?”

“I’m saying you’d better not, or I’ll put your old yearbook photos online.”

“Oh, the horror! Guess that means I have to come visit.”

“Guess that means you have to stay- I mean- You don’t have to. You’re a super famous rockstar and you’re super busy-”

“The band’s not touring right now and I think I need a change of scenery to help me focus on my solo stuff.”

“Just say it, Eddie!”

“Shhh, Max, this is getting us a ton of donos.”

“I’m taking that as you giving me your blessing, kiddos.”

“Blessing?”

“Yeah, Stevie. As long as you and your kids want me, I’m coming to stay.”

A sniffle.

“You asshole, you can’t say that kind of stuff when you’re too far away to kiss!”

Eddie grinned. “Put it on my tab. I’ll pay my dues when I get there, sweetheart.”

“Gross!”

“Okay, okay, pack it up! It’s my stream and I’m taking back control.”

With that, Dustin pushed Steve away from the screen and started closing out the stream. Then, it hits him. How much they raised and the lives they’d be able to change.

Dustin starts sobbing, thanking everyone profusely, saying that he’d never thought he’d be able to do something like this. He never thought he’d be able to make a real difference.

Steve and Max pull him into a tight hug. Steve kisses his forehead and tells Dustin that he was the one who had taught Steve that he could be a better person, who made him excited to wake up to each new day, and that he made people’s lives better just by being in them.

Steve points at the numbers, at the chat filled with people who were congratulating them and crying along, at Eddie who had tears quietly running down his cheeks, and tells him:

“This was a community effort, but you were the one who brought the community together. Without you, none of this would have happened. But it did happen, and you did so good. I’m proud of you, Max is proud of you, Eddie’s proud of you, Robin and Nancy are definitely proud of you, and I bet everyone out there watching is proud of you, too.”

“So be proud of yourself, dumbass!” Max bites out in between sniffles.

“Yeah, Dusty-Buns,” Eddie laughs. “You did a damn good job, kid.”

“First of all, stop calling me that or I will veto your visit,” Dustin snarks, wiping his face. “Second of all, okay yeah. I did do pretty awesome. I guess I might as well be proud.”

The stream ends in laughter and tears and once the money gets donated to Nancy and Robin’s charity, they realize its so much that they end up donating the rest to other charities and people in need.

Dustin’s popularity surges and he uses it to further other great causes, including funding the legal fees needed for Steve to adopt Max.

Dustin ends up bringing his internet girlfriend Susie home and Max brings home El and Lucas. The family keeps growing year by year.

Steve and Eddie become both an internet power couple and a giant meme, but the rest of their relationship is kept out of the public eye. Except when they want to gross their kids out by being mushy in interviews or when Steve goes with Eddie to support him at concerts and awards ceremonies.

Every year the whole family gets together, no matter where they are in the world, and do a marathon stream for upcoming charities and foundations, raising more and more money each time.

There’s even a several hour long video by an avid fan reporting on the history of the Henderfam Streams, with a 1.5 hour section about the stream where Steve proposed, that Steve likes to watch from time to time, usually with at least one or two other family members by his side.

Essentially, they’re happy.

#THIS GREW A MIND OF ITS OWN SORRY ITS SO LONG #steddie #henderfam #steve harrington #dustin henderson #eddie munson #max mayfield #stranger things #my writing #AHHH THIS IS SO LONG #IM DYING #the type of queerness of each character is kept purposefully vague so it can be whatever you headcanon

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twopoppies · 2 years

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this article warms my heart! i know the social conversation on harry and queerbaiting has been exhausting and turbulent, but this is what matters. real people feel more comfortable with themselves and exploring their identities. that’s his real impact on young queer youth— no one can take that away. it’s all summed up by Ash:

“They see him, they like him,” Sandoval said of Styles fans. “And if they like him, they might like me too.” ❤️

Oh this is wonderful. And I love that quote. Thank you for sharing the article with me.

Katelyn could hardly believe it.

Harry Styles’ percussionist, Pauli Lovejoy, picked up the nonbinary pride flag their friend had tossed onstage and began dancing and waving it while Styles sang. It was October of last year, and Styles was performing in Nashville. Katelyn, a nonbinary fan who asked to go by their first name because they have not yet come out to certain family members, screamed with joy at the top of their lungs.

“It just made me feel so safe and validated and loved for being who I am,” said Katelyn, 19, who uses they/them pronouns. “I came out to a lot of people after that experience.”

It’s no secret that Styles is a champion of the LGBTQ community, but to a special section of that fan base — his young gender-nonconforming devotees — Styles’ ability to exist comfortably, and extremely publicly, in a fluid space along the gender spectrum is particularly resonant. For them, Styles, 28, is an icon and advocate whose journey to self-actualization, and unapologetic ability to wear a Gucci gown or a string of pearls, mirrors their own strides toward self-love and discovery.

At his concerts, Styles regularly helps fans come out to their families by reading signs they hold up in the audience. He then celebrates them by leading the crowd in affirming chants, as he did on opening night of his 15-show stand at Inglewood’s Kia Forum. After asking a fan named Serena if she was sure she wanted to go public, he declared, “Congratulations, Serena, thank you for being here tonight.”

“He helped me feel like a lot of things about myself are OK,” said Alondra “Ash” Sandoval, 20, who uses she/they pronouns and said they are just beginning to explore their gender identity. Sandoval stood in the Forum parking lot wearing a snazzy black suit emblazoned with bright silver stars. The venue behind her was bathed in rainbow colors.

[…]

Styles has dropped so many references to his feelings about sexuality and his thoughts on gender nonconformity that fans regularly track them online. In an April 2022 Better Homes & Gardens cover story, the pop star called it “outdated” that people should expect him to declare his sexuality publicly.

“I’ve been really open with it with my friends, but that’s my personal experience; it’s mine,” he told the magazine. “The whole point of where we should be heading, which is toward accepting everybody and being more open, is that it doesn’t matter, and it’s about not having to label everything, not having to clarify what boxes you’re checking.”

A few months later in a Rolling Stone cover story, Styles said, “I think everyone, including myself, has your own journey with figuring out sexuality and getting more comfortable with it.”

[…]

Not all observers agree that it’s fine for Styles to disregard gender norms and ally himself so firmly with the LGBTQ community without identifying himself as part of it. He has been accused by some critics and disgruntled fans of “queerbaiting” — or co-opting queer identity — an ongoing controversy that is peaking as his latest film, “My Policeman” comes out, in which he plays a closeted gay man in 1950s England.

Many gender-nonconforming fans have served as Styles’ most staunch defenders. Grace Daniels, 19, who attends New York University and uses they/them pronouns, said that Styles does need to state anything publicly.

“Gender exists on a spectrum, sexuality exists on the spectrum,” Daniels said. “And who’s to say that you have to even have a label at all? Which is something that he has emphasized, extensively.”

Another fan, Suba, 19, who is from the South and uses she/they pronouns (who asked to be identified by their first name since they have not yet come out to certain members of their family), recently wrote an 11-page paper on the subject for their writing seminar.

In the paper, they argue that accusing Styles of “queerbaiting” is essentially the same as “telling any young kid out there who is hesitant to do something, like dressing a certain way, that they are not allowed to try out different expressions without having to label themselves one way or another.”

[…]

Hernandez said the song “Lights Up,” which came out in 2019, just when they were beginning to realize they were nonbinary, changed their life.

“I feel like that was just what I needed at that point in my life,” they said of the soulful tune with the lyrics, “Lights up and they know who you are / know who you are / do you know who you are / shine / step into the light.”

San Antonio-based transgender fan, Derek D., 19, agrees. When Derek (who asked to go by his first name and last initial only, out of concerns for privacy), was about 11 years old, and Styles was still in One Direction, Derek said, he remembers a fan complimenting Styles on his black nail polish and Styles acting a bit shy and embarrassed about it.

“Times were a little bit different back then. And I remember resonating with that a lot, just that aspect of doing something outside of what is typically acceptable for your gender,” and then feeling a bit sheepish in public, Derek said. Derek now calls this “the nail polish story,” and said it’s an anecdote he uses a lot when discussing the stepping stones along the way to discovering his identity.

“It’s almost as if he’s walking in front of me,” said Derek of Styles. “And he’s leading a path, saying, ‘It’s OK. I promise it’s OK to be yourself’.”

Full article here

#LA Times #harry’s sexuality #harry’s gender #queerbaiting

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dontmeantobepoliticalbut · 10 months

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Moms for Liberty, a conservative group advocating for parental rights, has received backlash for quoting German dictator and Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler in its newsletter.

The group, described by Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as "anti-government," was founded in 2021 by two mothers who previously served on Florida school boards.

"Moms for Liberty and its nationwide chapters combat what they consider the 'woke indoctrination' of children by advocating for book bans in school libraries and endorsing candidates for public office that align with the group's views. They also use their multiple social media platforms to target teachers and school officials, advocate for the abolition of the Department of Education, advance a conspiracy propaganda, and spread hateful imagery and rhetoric against the LGBTQ community," SPLC said on its website.

The organization's chapter in Hamilton County, Indiana, released a newsletter called The Parent Brigade on Wednesday, which included a quote from Hitler on the front page that read, "He alone, who OWNS youth, GAINS the future." Hitler spoke those words in 1935 in an attempt to encourage young people to join Hitler Youth, a Nazi organization.

Social media users condemned the group for using Hitler's quote. Moms for Liberty apologized on Thursday, according to The Indianapolis Star, and updated the front page of its newsletter to remove the quote.

"We condemn Adolf Hitler's actions and his dark place in human history," Paige Miller, chapter chairwoman, said in a statement on Facebook. "We should not have quoted him in our newsletter and express our deepest apology."

In the updated newsletter, the group explained the context in which Hitler's words were used, saying "the quote from a horrific leader should put parents on alert," according to the Star.

"If the government has control over our children today, they control our country's future. We The People must be vigilant and protect children from an overreaching government," read the update.

Still, social media users criticized the right-wing parent group, including Anna V. Eskamani, congresswoman in the Florida House of Representatives.

"Oh you know. Just an average day in America where a "Moms for Liberty" newsletter in Indiana quotes Hitler?? WTAF??" tweeted Eskamani.

"I mean ... on brand is on brand. Moms for Liberty's Hamilton County chapter quotes Hitler in newsletter," wrote Lincoln Project founder Rick Wilson.

Twitter user Alejandra Caraballo said, "a Moms for Liberty newsletter quotes Hitler. If you're still wondering why SPLC labeled them a hate group."

Technologist Jim Stewartson tweeted, "If anyone is still confused about Robert Kennedy Jr. he's speaking at the Moms for Liberty National Summit. In their first newsletter, Moms for Liberty describes their strategy by quoting Hitler: 'He alone who OWNS the youth, gains the future.' If it quacks like a Nazi ..."

Jemele Hill called Moms for Liberty a "white supremacist organization."

Newsweek has reached out via email to Moms for Liberty for comment.

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magnetothemagnificent · 2 years

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So I was raised in a non-reform, pretty strict community, meaning that homophobia is very much present. (My dad freely uses the f slur in the community and the rabbi has said he would hesitate to let LGBT folk into services.) I would like help on reconciling my lesbian identity with my Jewish one, since the way I've been raised the two don't really seem to mesh. Thank you.

I was raised in a Chassidic Orthodox community, and so I feel your pain and conflict. It's a really hard journey, and ultimately it's yours alone. For me, I reconciled my trans and bi identity (originally I identified as lesbian, too) with learning about non-cis heteronormative figures in the Tanakh and in Jewish history. I read Jewish homoerotic poetry from the middle ages, and I connected with other LGBTQ+ people with similar backgrounds to mine.

I highly suggest connecting with Jewish Queer Youth (JQY), an organization advocating for community and acceptance for LGBTQ+ youth and parents in Orthodox, Chassidic, and more observant communities.

Another great organization is Eshel, which works on creating inclusion for LGBTQ+ people within Orthodox communities, and also has resources with Halakhic values on including LGBTQ+ people.

Yet another organization is Sephardic Mizrahi Q Network (SMQN) which focuses on creating acceptence and pride for LGBTQ+ people within Sephardi and Mizrachi communities.

Finally, there's also Keshet, which works on fostering equality and community for all LGBTQ+ Jews.

JQY and Eshel are tailored specifically for LGBTQ+ people from Orthodox, Chassidic, Chareidi, and other more socially conservative and observant communites, and there are so many resources they have that you can use. They have Zoom session, in-person meet-ups for some cities, and places to ask questions and talk with other LGBTQ+ people, Rabbis, and mental health professionals.

I am sending so many solidarity hugs your way, I know it can be so difficult trying to reconcile two seemingly opposing identities, and I wish you so so much luck and love on your journey.

May this new year bring you love, acceptence, and community, my friend. Shana Tova U'Metukah.

#jumblr #judaism #orthodox judaism #if jew know jew know #resources #lgbt jews #homophobia #lgbt issues #queer #jqy #eshel #keshet #smqn #gay jews #jewish identity

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batmanisagatewaydrug · 2 years

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hey sex witch! I have a question - I work at a university and recently got appointed to be part of our LGBTQ+ Steering Group, which basically advises the uni on their queer policy etc. I'm very excited, but also given what academia is like (particularly british ivy league esque academia) wanting to do a good job - given your line of work, are there any resources you'd recommend on making HE safe and inclusive for queer youth, particularly trans youth? also happy birthday :D

hi anon,

not sure if by my "line of work" you're referring to whatever the fuck I'm doing here on the internet or my actual bill-paying day job working with queer students in higher education, but either way I'm very glad you reached out and I'm glad to share my experiences!

I'm a very firm believer that your best resources are always going to be the students you're advocating for - they know what they need better than anyone else. a lot of my programming work (planning programs and events, not with computers) has been directly based on conversations with the students on campus and local teens interested in attending my university.

I hope your steering committee has an opportunity to meet with some student reps - and if there isn't one already planned, reaching out to any existing pride-centric groups on campus could be a great start. obviously no students can speak for the entire demographic, but you have to begin learning somewhere. if there aren't already plans for that sort of consultation, I'd recommend agitating for it with your fellow committee members. super ditto if there's any office or other formal establishment to advocate for LGBTQ students; speaking from experience, they Know Shit about student life that the administration couldn't begin to imagine.

but whether those options turn out to be feasible or not, the best resource I can recommend is the Consortium of Higher Education's Suggested Best Practices for Supporting Trans Student. I will acknowledge up front that it's American-based, so there may be cultural differences that don't translate perfectly for every instance, but it's a really thorough guide that covers everything from housing and records to counseling and health centers, as well as the much-discussed locker rooms and public bathrooms. it's a real quick read, and I think potentially quite useful for comparing/contrasting where your uni is already at in terms of equity for trans students.

this guide by NACE is Much Longer but fittingly also goes into much more detail and covers cool stuff like offering support in career services, something that I personally know causes anxiety for a LOT of trans students

#sex edventures 2022 #sort of sex related not super but #eh

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atlanticcanada · 1 year

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Questions linger over N.B. government review of LGBTQ+ policy

New Brunswick’s premier was grilled Tuesday over his government’s plan to review a three-year-old policy designed to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ persons in the province.

But, things quickly turned when Blaine Higgs was asked by reporters whether kids are born gay.

"I'm not going to surmise or be hypothetical I don't know ... I don't know,” the Premier replied.

The premier also questioned whether kids should attend drag queen story times. These are children's events hosted by drag queens. Advocates say they’re designed to introduce children to LGBTQ+ people, though critics say they confuse young audiences.

"Are we asking should kids in elementary school and kindergarten be exposed to drag queen reading time is that what you're asking because no I don't think they should be at that age," the premier said.

The premier was also asked about conversion therapy.

" I can't speak to... well it may be a reality, I'm not saying I'm in support of that reality, or I'm not,” Higgs said. “But, my point would be you know today there are a lot of decisions that would never have been quite the same many years ago,” he continued.

Prior to the scrum, Policy 713 was the focus of question period.

The policy originally established minimum standards for schools to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students.

The Higgs government is reviewing the policy because the department of education says they've received hundreds of complaints.

The department provided the province's Child and Youth Advocate with only four emails regarding the policy - one of which asked to strengthen it.

"The minister can review anything he likes,” Kelly Lamrock said.

He came out today with findings and recommendations following an investigation of the review of Policy 713.

“Our position is lets have clear terms of reference, make it clear that the rights and aims of the policy are going to remain, and give students and teachers a voice in their own community,” the advocate said. “I think those are our guidelines.”

Lamrock said he doesn’t like the education department’s review process, saying the department shouldn’t revisit decisions based on three emails.

“We don't send reviews out without terms of reference, we don't start reviews and not articulate what we're supposed to be reviewing,” he said.

The province’s opposition Liberals had plenty to say about the review process.

"The three complaints that came in before the review seem to be very different to the complaints that have come in since the government has initiated it,” said Susan Holt, Leader of NB’s Liberal Party.

“It's the government's role as a leader to address those fears in clear communication with explanations of their policy, not try to divide parents into us and them categories,” Holt added.

For the latest New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/yKSFb52

#new brunswick #prince edward island #nova scotia #news #politics #canada #CTVAtlantic

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pashterlengkap · 4 days

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Tennessee passes first-of-its-kind law attacking trans kids

In its latest attack on transgender youth, lawmakers in Tennessee passed a bill to stop the nonexistent problem of adults kidnapping kids and taking them to other states for gender-affirming care. The bill, S.B. 2782, was passed by the Tennesee House of Representatives on Thursday and is on its way to the governor’s desk. It amends a 2023 gender-affirming care ban, adding civil penalties for any adults who aid an unemancipated minor get out-of-state gender-affirming care without their parents’ consent. The bill passed along party lines 63-16 in the Tennessee House of Representatives and previously passed the state’s Senate 25-4. This would be the first state to pass a law of this kind, according to the Associated Press. S.B. 2782, is headed to the governor’s desk. Gov. Bill Lee (R) is expected to pass the legislation, as he previously advanced anti-LGBTQ+ bills, such as one that would allow LGBTQ+ foster children to be placed with foster parents who are opposed to LGBTQ+ rights. It was introduced by state Sen. Janice Bowling (R), who has been introducing anti-trans legislation since at least 2020, and contains exemptions for parents, guardians, those with the consent of parents and guardians, and common carriers like bus drivers, airline pilots, and ride share app drivers. An earlier version of S.B. 2782 reportedly had criminal penalties for adults; however, this was removed in committee. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups are now working to make it clear that the law doesn’t ban parents from taking their own kids out of state for gender-affirming care, which many have been doing since the state passed its ban on gender-affirming care. “OUTMemphis has provided navigation assistance for families seeking gender-affirming care for youth since the ban on care for minors passed last year,” said Molly Quinn, executive director of OUTMemphis. “Above all, we want these families to know help is available and that you don’t have to fear leaving the state to get your child the care that they need.” LGBTQ+ organizations are currently looking to assist families as they navigate the confusion of this bill and whether they can get their children gender-affirming care. OUTMemphis and Campaign for Southern Equality released a joint statement emphasizing that the families of transgender children can still seek out gender-affirming care. “It’s obvious that the Tennessee legislature is trying to intimidate families of transgender youth – piling additional fear onto the mountain of financial and logistical burdens that parents are grappling with in the face of the existing healthcare ban in Tennessee,” said Adam Polaski, Communications & Political Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality. “But we want to be clear: This development does not block parents from traveling with their child out of state to access the healthcare they need and deserve.” This type of legislation comes as a reaction to conspiracies that there is a ploy from transgender adults to kidnap kids and “turn” them transgender. A recent bill in Maine made headlines in the right-wing press for supposedly being a “transgender trafficking” bill. A recent bill in Maine made headlines in the right-wing press for supposedly being a “transgender trafficking” bill. The bill, L.D. 1735, makes Maine a safe state for trans people, protecting refugees from other states. Anti-trans advocates like Chaya Raichik (of Libs of TikTok) and Riley Gaines opposed this, arguing that it promoted the alleged kidnapping and trafficking of youth across state lines to give them gender-affirming surgery, something transgender youth almost never get. This culture of fear about children transitioning behind their parents’ backs has been promoted by anti-LGBTQ+ Republicans like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who alleged that there are states that want to take kids away from their parents and make them transition. There is no evidence to support any of these assertions. http://dlvr.it/T64fNB

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findinghopepdx · 6 months

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Blog Deliverable #5

In this post we'll be talking about radio. First I'll share with you a podcast about the issues of mental health and addiction we've been discussing alongside a song that you might know of that calls for social change.

Mental Health and Homelessness Panel Discussion

A podcast relevant to the issue of the mental health crisis in Portland is hosted by the League of Women Voters of Portland titled, “Mental Health and Homelessness Panel Discussion.” Four community speakers of the city of Portland discuss the issue with their respective expertise on the topic. The podcast begins with speaker Jill Kahnert, a certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, who has decades of experience working with homeless adults and youth. She speaks to the incapacity to feel human when experiencing addiction and mental health issues, sharing that she was someone who experienced homelessness and addiction herself, and is now in recovery. She summarizes the pure survival mindset that occurs when one is facing addiction, mental health issues, and homelessness. Her passion for this work comes from her experience and her desire to help others in similar situations. The next speaker is Jason Renaud, founder of the Mental Health Association of Portland, who I previously had the privilege of interviewing for this blog. Jason talks about the importance of providing adequate healthcare to people in need, and the destructive consequences when state and city governments fail to do so. He believes there are four large factors contributing to why Oregon and Portland specifically are having such a devastating experience with mental health and mental healthcare: 1) Even with cooperative patients and provider, the longevity and complexity of mental health disorders and addiction are incredibly difficult to treat. 2) Lack of federal, state, county, and city investments in public mental health and addiction services when the problem began to increase in the late 1980’s and 1990’s. 3) The lack of funding at the beginning of the problem failed to build the infrastructure necessary to support people now. 4) We are still hurting ourselves through policy. He expands on these topics more in the full episode. Next speaker is Scott Kerman, executive director of Blanchet House who has also been cited in my blog. He works with people experiencing homelessness, addiction, mental health struggles, and poverty. He speaks on the fentanyl epidemic and the exponential rise in overdoses on the streets in recent months. He talks about Blanchet House and their mission towards increasing hope for vulnerable people. Lastly, Rachael Duke, Executive Director of Community Partners for Affordable Housing speaks about her work in connecting people with long term affordable housing. Building affordable housing, providing services to residents, asset-managing the housing, and advocating for housing justice are just some of the things that Rachael and her colleagues do in their work.

This podcast is an excellent way to learn about the mental health, addiction, and homelessness crises in Portland from a very qualified group of people with different experiences around the issue. You can access the entire episode for free here: https://lwvpdxpodcasts.buzzsprout.com/1923318/12609334-mental-health-and-homelessness-panel-discussion

Take Me to Church

With LGBTQ+ adults twice as likely to experience a mental health condition (NAMI, 2013) and incredibly high suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth (Paley, 2022), conversations about the dangers of anti-LGBTQ+ policy and disapproval of LGBTQ+ identities in social communities are imperative. One person initiating this conversation through his music is Hozier, an Irish singer-songwriter raised in a coastal town in Ireland called County Wicklow.

Since the beginning of his career, Hozier's music has preached the importance of equality, humanism, and social justice. Several of his songs address themes of homophobia, religious trauma, civil and reproductive rights, and violence against women, to name only a few. Hozier is an Irish singer-songwriter raised in a coastal town in Ireland called County Wicklow. As a struggling musician, he wrote and recorded his debut single, "Take Me to Church," in 2013 in his parent's attic. Take Me to church is a mid-tempo soul song that utilizes religious terminology in its lyrics to describe a gay relationship amidst discrimination from the church. In the song, he rejects organized religion, appropriating the church's rhetoric to praise his lover. He describes his "church" as a fluid relationship without rules as opposed to the Christian concept of submission to absolute truths. He suggests that "heaven" is accessed only through relational intimacy, stripping the word of its religious connotations. The song is an argument against the Catholic/Christian beliefs of homosexuality being immoral, impure, and sinful, contrasting these judgments with the idea of love as gentle and pure.

Shot in black and white, the music video depicts a gay relationship between two lovers and the subsequent discrimination and eventual brutal violence they face. The video shows the dangers and reality of the effects of anti-LGBT policies. The song and music video were intended to celebrate sexuality. In an interview, Hozier described this music as "asserting yourself and reclaiming your humanity through an act of love. Turning your back on the theoretical thing, something that's not tangible, and choosing to worship or love something that is tangible and real - something that can be experienced.”

References

Hozier. (2014). Hozier - Take Me To Church (Official Video). In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVjiKRfKpPI

League of Women Voters of Portland. (2023, April 27). Mental Health and Homelessness Panel Discussion [Podcast]. Buzzsprout. https://lwvpdxpodcasts.buzzsprout.com/1923318/12609334-mental-health-and-homelessness-panel-discussion

NAMI. (2013). LGBTQI | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. Nami.org. https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/LGBTQ#:~:text=LGB%20adults%20are%20more%20than

Paley, A. (2022). 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health. The Trevor Project; The Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2022/

#homelessness #mentalhealth #pdx #portland

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aiukrainesummaries · 10 months

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Overview of Z Generation: Into the Heart of Russia's Fascist Youth by Ian Garner (2023)

• The book provides an in-depth look at Russia's fascist and neo-Nazi youth movements, known collectively as the Z Generation.

• Garner investigates the rise of groups like Russian March, White Rex and the neo-Nazi Russian National Unity organization. He estimates there are as many as 100,000 Z Generation members.

• The book explores the ideologies of the Z Generation, which promotes ethnic Russian nationalism, xenophobia, violent opposition to immigration and often openly embraces Nazism. Many members glorify fascist symbols and Nazis.

• Garner examines the backgrounds and motivations of individual Z Generation members through interviews and firsthand reporting. He finds many come from broken homes, suffer from social isolation and feel marginalized in post-Soviet Russia.

• The book argues that the Z Generation has been enabled by a lack of opposition from Russian authorities. In fact, some fascist groups receive indirect support from government-linked sponsors.

• Garner looks at how social media and online platforms have helped the Z Generation organize, spread propaganda and recruit new members. The movement has proved savvy at using modern technologies.

• In conclusion, the book warns that Russia's fascist youth pose a serious threat given their growing numbers, violent tendencies and potential links to security forces. Garner calls for more effective policies to challenge the Z Generation's dangerous ideologies.

• The book's title refers to the Z Generation members' fascination with the swastika symbol, which resembles the Latin letter Z. The swastika has become an emblem of their ideology.

Hope this summary provides a useful overview of key arguments and themes from Z Generation: Into the Heart of Russia's Fascist Youth! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Tell me more.

Here are some additional details from Z Generation: Into the Heart of Russia's Fascist Youth by Ian Garner:

• The book details specific acts of violence and hate crimes carried out by Z Generation members, including racist attacks, beatings, stabbings and even murders. However, Garner argues the movement poses a wider threat through its extremist ideology.

• Interviews with Z Generation members reveal that in addition to xenophobia and ethnic nationalism, many also embrace conservative social values and oppose LGBTQ rights, feminism and liberalism more broadly. They idealize a traditionalist Russian society.

• Garner examines links between some Z Generation groups and Russian security forces, arguing indirect support from official figures has allowed the movement to flourish. However, the relationship is a complex mix of cooperation, tolerance and opportunism on both sides.

• The book exposes propaganda and disinformation spread by the Z Generation online, including myths about ethnic Russians facing existential threats from immigration, foreign influence and marginalization in their own country.

• In summary, Garner aims to shed light on Russia's long-neglected fascist youth movement while also advocating for policies to confront and counter the extremism it represents. The book argues Russian authorities and society as a whole must do more to marginalize and delegitimize the Z Generation's racist ideologies.

• However, some critics argue the book overstates the threat posed by the Z Generation and fails to acknowledge efforts already being taken to combat extremism in Russia. Nonetheless, most reviews still praise Garner for bringing important awareness to the disturbing rise of far-right ideology among Russian youth.

Additional details:

• The book details the Z Generation's glorification of the Soviet and Russian imperial eras, which members portray as ethnically pure periods in Russian history unsullied by foreign influence. However, Garner argues this narrative is distorted.

• Garner examines how the spread of global far-right ideologies online has energized and amplified Russia's fascist youth movement. The Z Generation frequently shares content and networks with international extremist groups.

• The Z Generation's influence extends beyond street activism and violence, according to the book. Some members have formed political parties that compete in elections, aiming to radicalize Russian mainstream conservatism from within the system.

• Interviews with parents of Z Generation members reveal stories of teenage kids being gradually radicalized online through exposure to Fascist propaganda. However, Garner notes that not all parents disagree with their children's extremist views.

• In addition to traditional Nazi symbolism, the Z Generation has created new symbols and imagery that merges Russian nationalism with fascism. This unique aesthetics aims to market extremism to younger audiences.

• Despite extensive documentation of the threat, Garner acknowledges there are also signs of weakness within the Z Generation. The movement suffers from infighting, short-lived grassroots initiatives and a lack of coherent long-term strategy.

• In summary, Garner's book aims to serve as a wake-up call for Russian society to confront the far-right radicalization of the country's youth head on, by marginalizing extremist ideologies and providing alternative visions of Russian identity that are inclusive rather open xenophobic.

Criticism:

• Some critics argue the book overstates the strength and cohesion of Russia's far-right youth movement. They claim the Z Generation is actually fragmented and lacks influence rather than posing a serious threat as the book suggests.

• There are claims the book exaggerates the numbers of Z Generation members for dramatic effect. Some reviewers believe fascist youth are a tiny, marginal group in Russian society, not the 100,000 estimated by Garner.

• The book has been criticized for drawing overly broad conclusions about the Z Generation based on a limited number of interviews. Critics argue Garner's portrayal of the movement's ideology and motivations may not be representative.

• Critics argue Garner fails to acknowledge efforts already being undertaken in Russia to confront extremism, such as government programs to promote tolerance and combat radicalization. They say the book overstates official inaction.

• However, other reviewers counter that even a relatively small fascist movement can pose problems if allowed to operate with impunity. They praise Garner for drawing attention to a disturbing but underreported phenomenon in Russian society.

• In summary, while some critics accuse Garner of exaggerating the threat from Russia's far-right youth, others value his reporting for shedding light on a worrying trend and advocating for stronger responses. There are reasonable disagreements about how influential and cohesive the Z Generation really is based on the evidence Garner presents.

#books #russia #war in ukraine #ai generated #book summary #may contain factual inaccuracies due to limitations of AI

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riverdamien · 1 year

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Crack the Shell Open!

"Cracking A Part the Shell to Open Hearts!"

Luke 1:26-38

Meister Echart wisely said, "Do not cling to the symbols, but GET TO THE INNER TRUTH. ."What good is it if Mary is full of grace IF WE ARE NOT FULL OF GRACE? And what good is it if Mary is the Mother of God? IF WE ARE NOT ALSO THE MOTHERS OF GOD?"

Yesterday I completed the "Forty Mile Challenge" of the Trevor Project, by walking out to the center of the Golden Gate Bridge, where it was breezy and freezing cold.

Praying the words of the Office of the Dead over the ashes in my hand of my young transgender friend I cast them over the Bridge into the Sea, and wondering at the same time if there was hypocrisy in doing so because those words come from the prayer book of a branch of religion he felt rejected him.

Looking at the "inner truth of the Gospels," we see a Jesus who loved the poorest of the poor, the most broken, and never condemned anyone because of their sexual gender, in fact, he never mentioned it, calling each one of us into becoming "mothers of God".

Redemption is not being "saved" from our "outward sin" but the liberation of our hearts from within to remove discrimination, hatred, and injustice from our hearts.

"Redemption is the journey of being reconnected to the light of God within. It is a journey home that takes us through what seems like unknown land. Redemption is not the bringing of light into a creation that is essentially dark, but rather the liberating of light from the heart of life."

J. Phillip Newell

Rather than telling me "how sorry" you are for my feelings, donate to the Trevor Project, double my donation of $500.00.

This Christmas go out on the streets, and look, look closely and you will find Transgender individuals, go to the Trangsgencer bar in your community, and take one individual out to lunch or dinner. We do not understand what we do not know! Push aside your taught beliefs by homophobes, and transphobes, and crack open the shell to new understanding and new life! Deo Gratias!

------------------------------------------------

"Together, we can make sure that LGBTQ young people who need support know they are not alone. Your support will help us provide them with the affirmation and love they deserve--every single one. Your gift also helps Trevor to:

Advocate against anti-LGBTQ laws and work with policymakers to pass legislation to protect LGBTQ youth

Connect LGBTQ peers through TrevorSpace, our safe space social networking site

Conduct original research to capture the unique experiences of LGBTQ young people

Will you consider a monthly gift? By giving each month, this will help us ensure we’re able to reach every single one of the young LGBTQ people who reach out to us all year round.

For questions about giving or website issues, please contact us at [email protected] or (212) 695-8650.

The Trevor Project is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and your gift is tax-deductible!

Fr. River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

www.temenos.org

415-305-2124

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octaviasdread · 3 years

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any girls! dark academia movie recs? i really struggle to find anything not about a group of boys (as much as I love them)

SO MANY!!! This is probably a far more detailed answer than you were expecting but this is a popular question and I want to keep a list for myself and others.

Feel free to add to it/give opinions. I've tried to give a tw for anything I can remember

Girls! Dark Academia Movies/TV Shows

Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

1950s Women’s college

Art professor! Julia Roberts

She’s legit the female Mr Keating of the art & college world

Feminism vs. Tradition

Maggie Gyllenhall x Ginnifer Goodwin; their characters were more than friends. Fight me.

Does not end how you expect

Strike!/All I Wanna Do/The Hairy Bird (1998)

MY FAVOURITE!!!

Free on YouTube under one of its various names

Comedy

1960s all girls boarding school

Young Kirsten Dunst

Group of girls plot to sabotage a merger with a boys school less prestigious than their own

Secret attic clubhouse meetings of the D.A.R aka Daughters of the American Ravioli (eaten cold, ew)

girls get political & advocate for their rights using ANY elaborate and chaotic scheme

TW: eating disorder, vomiting & creepy male teacher but the girls plot against him too

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)

based on a short book I read for uni by Muriel Spark

1930s girls school in Edinburgh

Scottish teacher! Maggie Smith, controversial with a focus on romantic ideals

Spoiler alert, the liberal teacher is actually a fascist

Her group of fave students has cult- vibes and it’s fascinating

Picnic at Hanging Rock

1970s movie or 2018 mini series

Never watched either but I plan to

Wild Child (2008)

00s romcom every UK teen girl loves

Emma Roberts as the spoiled rich American teenager sent to a strict English boarding school

Plots to get herself expelled but oh no she’s making friends with the girls who help her

And the headmistress has a hot son, and he’s nice??? Double oh no

ICONIC SCENES

Everything! Goes! Wrong!

omg she burns the school down

Feel good, comfort, nostalgia

St Trinians (2007)

English girls boarding school

The kids are all criminals, no joke

So are the teachers

CHAOTIC

gay awakening for british girls

Art heist pulled off by school girls

Government tries to shut them down but oh no, the education minister & the headmistress are ex-lovers

Colin Firth x Rupert Everett in drag

Superior cast: Jodie Whittaker, Gemma Arterton, Juno Temple, Stephen Fry, Colin Firth, etc...

embodies the phrase 'problematic fave'

St Trinians 2: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold (2009)

Mystery, pirate ancestors, hidden treasure

omg Shakespeare was a woman

girls disguised as boys to infiltrate and rob the posh boys school

Villain! David Tennant in that ICONIC boat scene

Teen girls vs. ancient misogynist brotherhood

like the first film but MORE chaotic and BETTER!???

The Falling (2014)

1960s all girls school

best friends! but its unrequited love

Agoraphobic + distant mother aka mommy issues

Sudden death and the school suppresses/ignores the students grief, sparking mass hysteria & a fainting epidemic in the girls

Cast: Maisie Williams (GoT) & Florence Pugh (Little Women) & Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders)

TW: teen pregnancy, death, vomiting, underage s*x, sibling inc*st, past s*xual assault

READ THE PLOT SUMMARY FIRST

The Book Thief (2013)

Based on an amazing book by Markus Zusak

set in 1940s Nazi Germany

Daughter of a communist whose family were taken by the Nazis/died is fostered by an older couple who teach her to read & she paints a dictionary on the basement walls

Coming of age story about a compulsive book thief. No joke, this kid steals books from banned book burnings and breaks into the mayor's library through the window

Family hides the Jewish son of an old friend in their basement and he helps her to start writing about her experiences in the war

TW: death, bombings, WW2 anti-semitism

Mary Shelley (2017)

Overall good & roughly biographical

Pretty costumes and aesthetic

Modern feminist take on Mary Shelly in her own time period

So many INACCURACIES for the drama so don’t take it as truth

Percy Shelley slander and not all of it is justified

Cast: Elle Fanning, Douglas Booth, and Maisie Williams

The Secret Garden (1993)

Based on a fave childhood book

1901 colonial India & Yorkshire, England

Orphaned, spoilt & neglected girl sent to live with her reclusive Uncle in the English countryside

Gothic elements, mysteries, secret doors/passages/locked gardens

local boy with a flock of animals, magic, kids chanting around a fire and all around immaculate vibes

Happy ending!!!

Hidden Figures (2016)

African-American women as mathematicians for NASA

1960s space project

Women balancing a career and family obligations

Deals with racial & gender discrimination

Loosely based on the lives of Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan who worked for NASA as engineers & mathematicians

Anne of Green Gables (1985) & sequel (1987)

Adaptation L.M. Montgomery’s ‘Anne of Green Gables’ books

Canada (late 1890s/early 1900s)

Highly imaginative & bookworm orphan is adopted by a reclusive elderly brother and sister duo

Small town & school years comedic drama

Unrequited Enemies -> Friends -> lovers

Inspiring new woman teacher

Girls re-enact Tennyson’s poem and nearly drown for the aesthetic™

Dramatic poetry reading with INTENSE 👀eye contact👀

Writer! Anne & English teacher! Anne dealing with unruly girls school antics

Collette (2018)

biographical drama on french writer Sidonie-Gabrielle Collette

Victorian & Edwardian era France

More talented than her husband so she ghostwrites for him

Fight for creative ownership of her wildly successful novels

Affairs with a woman called Georgie and also with Missy, born female but masculine presenting

Cast: Keira Knightly, Dominic West, Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark)

Enola Holmes (2020)

Netflix book adaptation

Younger sister of Sherlock Holmes

Victorian era! feminism/suffragettes

Mother-daughter focus

Mystery, adventure, secret codes, teens running away & escaping from (and eventually fighting) assassins

Cast: Helena Bonham Carter, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, Fiona Shaw, Millie Bobby Brown

Ginger & Rosa (2012)

1960s England

best friends since literal birth navigating troubled teen years

poet & anti-nuclear activist! Ginger

off the rails but also catholic! Rosa

Shout out to Mark & Mark the gay godfathers we all want

family troubles

TW: older man has an affair with a 17 yr old

Testament of Youth (2014)

based on WW1 memoir by Vera Brittain

young woman (writer & poetry lover) escapes traditional family & goes to study at Oxford University

abandons to become a war nurse

romance, tragedy and war trauma

Cast: Alicia Vikander, Kit Harrington (GoT), Taron Edgerton (Rocketman), Colin Morgan (Merlin)

Little Women (2019)

Writer! Jo & Artist! Amy

Mother/daughter focus and sister dynamics

the March sisters’ theatre club is *chefs kiss*

champagne problems edits of Jo x Laurie are a mood

Ambivalent ending perfectly captures Louisa May Alcott’s dilemma with the book the movie is based on

set in 1860s America

ALL STAR CAST and a Greta Gerwig masterpeice

Lady Bird (2017)

coming of age in early 2002/2003 Sacramento, California

all girls catholic school

writer! Christine aka Lady Bird wants to get outta town and start her life again at college 'in a city with culture'

Mother/daughter dynamics - so realistic!

I live for that Jesus car stunt & the nun's reaction

school theatre program

Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Timothee Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein

Another Greta Gerwig gem

Beguiled (2017)

Virginia, civil war era

Girls school with only five students and two teachers left

Find an injured Union army soldier & bring him inside

Women & teenagers want his attention (v. problematic) before uniting against him

(tbh you'll either love it, hate it, or watch once & forget it)

Sofia Coppola film so its very feminine gaze

TW: violence, death, underage

Legally Blonde (2001)

No questions will be taken

Elle Woods was the blue print

TV series:

House of Anubis (2011-2013)

I know it’s a kids/young teen show but I still unironically love it

ANCIENT EGYPT!!!!

Modern day with Victorian era links to treasure hunters & Egyptian research expeditions (stealing from tombs)

Chosen one plot lines, curses, kidnapping, mysteries, secret tunnels under the school, elixir of life

Teens have investigate & protect themselves cus oh no the TEACHERS are involved in some shady stuff

new American kid at British boarding school is the actual premise not just a fanfic au

Nostalgic, light-hearted, funny, and kinda cheesy but I will accept no criticism

The Alienist (2018 -now)

Mid 1890s, New York

Woman’s private detective agency (Season 2)

Serial killer mystery

Woman secretary turns detective and teams up with a criminal psychiatrist and a newspaper editor to solve crime

TW: violence, child pr*stit*tion

Cast: Dakota Fanning, Luke Evans, Daniel Bruhl

The Queen’s Gambit (2020)

Woman chess prodigy

1950s & 1960s

TW: drug & alcohol abuse

Gentleman Jack (2019 - now)

Based on the diaries of Anne Lister

Victorian Yorkshire, England

Upper-class lesbians

Confident, suit wearing! Anne Lister x shy! Ann Walker

Business woman! Anne running the family mines

Cast: Suranne Jones (Doctor Foster) & Sophie Rundle (Peaky Blinders)

TW: violence

Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)

bubbly/ambitious single mom + intelligent daughter

bookworm! Rory Gilmore gets into a prestigious private school and then an Ivy League college

Small town drama is comedic gold

Fast dialogue packed with pop culture and literary references

Comforting & nostalgic

TEAM JESS

Anne with an E (2017-2019)

Loose adaptation of L.M. Montgomery’s ‘Anne of Green Gables’ books

they completely change the plot lines but it’s still very good content!

Orphan girl with trauma and a love of books/poetry is adopted by an elderly brother & sister duo, bringing light and fresh ideas to a rural community

Feminism, girls writing club, lgbtq safe spaces, girls eduction, black/indigenous representation

Miss Stacy as THAT inspiring teacher

Aunt Josephine’s lavish gay parties have my heart

TW: creepy male teacher tries to marry a student, racial discrimination, indigenous assimilation school

Victoria (2016-2019)

Adaption of Queen Victoria’s life

Victoria navigating her political, royal, and personal life

Albert’s involvement with The Great Exhibition, 1851 (on cultural + industrial innovations)

Alfred Paget x Edward Drummond is exquisite

Gorgeous costumes and aesthetics

TW: bury your gays trope

Derry Girls (2018-now)

1990s Northern Ireland during the troubles

Comedy, episodes 20-25 mins long

English boy sent to an all girls Catholic school with his cousin

✨Dead Poets Society parody episode ✨with a free-spirited female teacher

Sister Michael, the sarcastic nun who hates her job & reads the exorcist for giggles

Wee anxious lesbian! Clare Devlin (plus her friends wearing rainbow pins)

Badass with bad ideas! Michelle Mallon

Main Character! Erin Quinn

Lovable weirdo who would fight a polar bear! Orla McCool

Wee English fella & honorary Derry girl! James Maguire

Dickinson (2019-now)

Loose adaption of the poet Emily Dickinson’s life

Set in 19th century Massachusetts, US

Historical drama with modern dialogue & music that works SEAMLESSLY

gives a great understanding of Emily Dickinson’s poems

💕Vintage gays! Emily x Sue💕

Theatre club, writing, poetry, dressing as men to sneak into lectures, love letters, teen drama, feminism, and an underground abolitionist journal as a brief side plot in season 2

Wiz Khalifa plays death in a horse drawn carriage

TW: opium use

A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017-2019)

Based on great childhood books

Bookworm! brother, Inventor! sister, and baby sister with sharp teeth

Mystery, secret organisations, orphaned siblings figuring things out & fending for themselves against the villain after their fortune

Adults either cartoon evil, comedically incompetent, or SPIES

Boarding school, library owner, scientific researcher, and theatre episodes

Ambiguous time period which is really fun to try and pin point

Killing Eve (2018-now)

Classic detective who has homoerotic tension with the assassin she is tracking down

British Detective! Eve Polastri figures out the notorious assassin MI5 are investigating is a woman, is fired & then put on a secret MI6 case with a small team

Assassin! Villanelle, a psychopath with a tragic past and a mastery of both accents & fashion

Woman MI6 boss! Carolyn Martens, head of Russian section

Travel Europe following Villanelle’s killings and escaping the assassins sent by Villanelle’s organisation

‘You’re supposed to be my enemy and moral opposite but omg you’re the only one smart enough to get me and why am I obsessed with you????'

🚨 GO IN FOR A KISS AND THEN STAB YOUR ENEMY 🚨

Cable Girls/Las chicas del cable (2017-2020)

Spanish drama set in 1920s Madrid

Four young women at a telecommunications company form a group of friends and help navigate the difficult situations they are all in

Secret identities, dangerous pasts, murder, crime, lgbtq couple & throuple, trans man character, feminism/suffragists

girls commit crimes for humanitarian reasons and cover! it! up!

UNDERRATED SHOW!!!!

Gorgeous costumes and set

Haven’t finished it yet and I’m catching up

TW: abuse, violence, death

Outlander (2014 - now)

haven’t watched yet but plan to

Woman time travels to Scotland, 1743

Rebel highlanders, pirates, British colonies, American revolutionary war

Time jumps between 18th & 20th century

#CO posts #answered asks #asks #dark academia girls #dark academia recommendations #dark academia recs #dark academia women #dark academia movies #dark academia tv

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crossdreamers · 3 years

Text

Biden Tells Trans Youth 'Your President Has Your Back'

It is good to see that the American president want to support and protect trans youth.

In his first address to a joint session of Congress he the proposed Equality Act, which aims at protecting the rights of LGBTQ Americans.

“To all the transgender Americans watching at home — especially the young people who are so brave — I want you to know that your president has your back,” Biden said.

Advocate has more.

#trans #transgender #lgbt #lbtqa #nonbinary #enby

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dontmeantobepoliticalbut · 1 year

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Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has signed a bill banning drag shows in public spaces, a measure that will likely force drag shows underground in Tennessee. Other states across the country are proposing similar legislation.

Lee gave his signature just hours after the measure passed in the Senate Thursday afternoon. In the same sitting, Lee signed a ban on gender-affirming health care for youth in the state.

The announcement comes as a yearbook photo of the Republican Governor in drag recently surfaced on Reddit.

Lee says there's a big difference between wearing a dress at a high school football game and drag queens wearing a dress on stage.

Hella Skeleton, a drag performer in rural Middle Tennessee, says the line is not clear.

"For Bill Lee to say, 'You know, that was lighthearted when I did it,' that is absolutely absurd when a lot of drag is extremely lighthearted," Skeleton says. "Apparently when straight men dress up badly in drag, that's OK. But when gay and queer and trans people do it, that's not OK."

Republican State Rep. Jack Johnson co-sponsored the bill. He says, "We're protecting kids and families and parents who want to be able to take their kids to public places. We're not attacking anyone or targeting anyone."

BROAD LANGUAGE WORRIES ADVOCATES

The language of the bill has also drawn concern from the larger LGBTQ community. Drag performers are defined as "male or female impersonators." The ACLU of Tennessee's Henry Seaton says that could impact queer Tennesseans across the board, not just drag performers.

"It's ... this subtle and sinister way to further criminalize just being trans," Seaton says.

The ban could also have a chilling effect on Pride festivals. Outdoor drag is a staple in the Tennessee summer heat. While new laws typically go into effect on July 1, the bill was quietly amended in January to take effect April 1 — ahead of Pride month in June.

Tennessee Tech student Cadence Miller says his generation of queer people owe a lot to drag queens, and that it's no accident they're under threat now.

"Historically, drag has been such an integral part of queer culture," Miller says. "Trans drag performers who were like pioneers and us getting ... any type of queer rights, like at all."

LEGAL CHALLENGES AHEAD

The law calls drag shows "harmful to minors," but the state's American Civil Liberties Union says that the legal definition for "harmful to minors" is very narrow in Tennessee and only covers extreme sexual or violent content.

"The law bans obscene performances, and drag performances are not inherently obscene," says ACLU of Tennessee Legal Director Stella Yarbrough. The way the law is written, she says, should not make drag shows illegal in the state.

"However, we are concerned that government officials could easily abuse this law to censor people based on their own subjective viewpoints of what they deem appropriate."

Yarbrough says the ACLU will challenge the law if it is used to punish a drag performer or shut down a family-friendly LGBTQ event.

IMPACTS ON LOCAL BUSINESS AND BEYOND

The measure refers to drag shows as "adult cabaret" that "appeal to a prurient nature." Nashville business owner David Taylor testified before the state legislature that the drag shows at his club are not sexually explicit:

"We know this because we have a Tennessee liquor license and are bound by Tennessee liquor laws. Our more than 20 years in business, we've not received a citation for one of our drag performers."

Taylor says the ban on drag will negatively impact Nashville's economy. Drag brunches in the city's bars are filled with bachelorette parties, and Music City's infamous fleet of party vehicles includes a drag queen-specific bus.

"My businesses alone have contributed more than $13 million to the state in the form of sales and liquor taxes since we opened," Taylor says.

This legislative session is the third year in a row that the statehouse has peeled back the rights of transgender Tennesseans. It has many trans people and families of trans kids wondering whether staying in the state is worth the fight.

"There's a lot of people who grew up here, and this is where their roots are. And it's really brutal to be faced with that sort of choice of, you know, you can either stay here and suffer or you can leave this home that you've created and all that you've invested in here," says drag performer Hella Skeleton. "So, yeah, it's a really tough choice."

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moonkissedmeli · 3 years

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Dionysus [Olympian, Greek]

God of: wine, winemaking, grape cultivation, fertility, ritual madness, frenzy, theater, religious ecstasy, grape harvest, epiphany

Zodiac sign: no specific zodiac sign, but many astrologers associate him with Sagittarius and Pisces

Plant: no planet associated with Dionysus

Lineage: Son of Zeus and human Semele, princess of Thebes

Primary cult centres: Eleusis, Naxos, Athens, and Mount Kithairon, but all over Greece

It is said that Dionysus was to be a demigod; when the goddess Hera forced his mother to have Zeus show him her true form. Semele didn't know she would perish if she looked upon a God's true form. Dionysus survived his mother's death because Zeus removed her from his mother and sewed him into his thigh until he could survive on his own. He was raised by the nymphs of rain in Mount Nysa and grew to become the first to cultivate wine; a skill that he taught the humans of Asia before going to Olympus. However - some say that his mother is Persephone and that he represents the underworld in Zeus.

It's thought that the Mycenean Greeks may have been the first to worship him. He is often considered a foreign god, or a god who comes. The Olympians consider him an outsider; however, it is one of the 12 Olympians and a very important god to the Greeks. Along with Demeter, he is one of the supreme earth deities and treated the humans kindly. He is a very generous, but does not take kindly to insults or disrespect.

He is depicted in two ways: older male with a beard and a robe holding a fennel staff with a pine cone on top or as a youthful man with no beard who is naked and androgynous. The Greeks referred to him in their writings as "man-womanish."

He followed the seasons, in the summer he was happy and lively, in the winter he was unhappy and sluggish. He is an agriculture and vegetation deity. He is also said to be a horned deity, which may have connections to older world horned and bull-horned gods.

Dionysus was also captured by pirates because he looked like the son of a king. He also descended into the underworld to save his mother .

His followers would drink, play music, and become frenzied as their sense of societal conditioning dropped away; they became free of self consciousness and became one with Dionysus.

If you are looking to overcome self consciousness, rewrite your social conditioning, being more in touch with nature perhaps by farming or gardening, Dionysus is a great god to work with. If you are having troubles with fun or enjoyment in your life, even despair, he can help you get back to a happier version of yourself. He is the god of mental health, so you can look to him for support in all mental health areas. As a God of epiphany, you may look to him when trying to reach deeper levels of spiritual enlightenment or exploring your consciousness. Dionysus is also a wonderful god for musicians and artists! You can also call on Dionysus to protect you while you're under the influence.

Festivals:

Dionysia: His oldest festival; the celebration of the cultivation of wines. Was in the month of Peseideon [December/January], often around the winter Solstice. It was a procession where people carried phalluses, long loaves of bread, and other food offerings. This is the festival that began the tradition of Greek plays, as may performances and drama competitions occurred at this festival.

Anthestria: Celebration of the beginning of spring. It was three days. The Greeks said the dead came up from the underworld to attend the festival. The first day was when they opened the win vats and mixed the win in honor of Dionysus. The second day people drank and it was a quiet and secret type of celebration. The wife of the basileus was given to Dionysus in a ritual marriage. The last day was dedicated to the dead and offerings were also given to Hermes.

Symbols

Wine, partying, music, phallus, chalice, two-handed goblets, horns, theatre [comedy & tragedy]

Animals: bulls, big cats especially leopard/panthers, serpents, goats [mythological animals, centaurs, sileni, and satyrs]

Plants/Herbs: fennel, pinecones, grapes, ivy, trees, petrified wood, fig tree, sap

Scents: frankinsense, musk, dirt scent, wine, rain, grape

Colors: purple, green, black, red

Crystals: amethyst (some thing he created it), amber, gold

Offerings

fennel, pine cones, grapes, ivy, grapes, pine needles, apple seeds, orchis root, thistle, comedic masks, phallus shaped items, wine, cannabis, blood, sap, fruit, pastries, flowers

Ways to worship:

Therapy, working on your mental health, overcoming fears or anxieties, reading mental health help books or spirituality [by reputable authors], meditate, and mental health care

Partying, drinking wine, going to festivals or theatre, dancing

Playing music, writing him music, making party/dance playlists for him, sing or pray to him, singing his hymns (bonus points if you're under the influence or drinking grape juice; while doing it). Try your hand at acting.

Leave offerings at trees [environmentally safe, biodegradable natural offerings! Never leave something that could harm the flora & fauna of your area]

Making wine, make ivy wreaths, grow ivy/trees/plants

Advocate for old growth forests & reforestation

Wear leopard print

Watch comedies or tragedies or read Greek plays

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community, Dionysus was very androgynous, sometimes it is said he was raised as a girl and that he is pansexual - he would not look kindly on those who discriminate against this group!

*As a disclaimer, you do not need to party, drink, do drugs or anything to worship Dionysus. He is a really multifaceted god. Madness and frenzy really are in the ritual sense -- this does not always mean becoming completely ecstatic and out of touch with reality. This can also look like a deep meditation or even dancing until you're exhausted to reach him in higher plains of consciousness.

Epithets

Dimetor - of two mothers/twice born

Eleutherios - Liberator

Acratophorus - Bringer of unmixed wine

Aegobolus - Goat shooter

Agrios - Wild

Briseus - who prevails

Bromios - Roaring

Endendros - He in the tree

Mystes - of mysteries

Tauros - A bull

*there are many more

Sources: wikipedia, briticanna, "Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman Mythology", theoi, greekgodsandgodesses.net

#dionysus #hellenic #greekgods #gods #witch #witchy #witchblr #grimoirepage #grimoire #pagan #paganism #worship #rituals

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blackwidowrising · 3 years

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We need to talk about the Kurtis Gabriel thing

Who is Kurtis Gabriel?

Kurtis Gabriel is a current player in the NHL on the San Jose Sharks known for being outspoken on social issues. (We will get back to this later).

Who is Brock McGillis?

Brock McGillis is a former professional hockey player and is one of the first professional players to come out as gay. He now works as an LGBT advocate.

What happened?

Twitter user nathanscn has been organising a fundraiser for Brent Burns to say "Trans rights are human rights". All funds are going to the LGBTQ Youth Space with a total of of over $6000 pledged and around $2300 donated. Nathan had been organising this by himself previously but reached out by @-ing Kurtis Gabriel on Twitter as he is one of Brent Burns' teammates and an outspoken advocate for LGBT people. This is where the problems began. After seeing Nathan's tweet Kurtis Gabriel talked to Brock McGillis, among others, and came to the conclusion that this was bullying.

[ID: Tweet by Kurtis Gabriel reading "At first I thought there was nothing to this, good cause. But after consideration and talking to @brock_mcgillis as well as others (you know who you are) this is unfortunately a form of bullying. It is not anybody's place to 'get someone to say something' and them in that...' END ID]

Why is this a problem?

Firstly, none of this is bullying, the idea that this is bullying is absolutely laughable. In addition to that there has long been valid criticisms of Kurtis Gabriel's activism which tends to be centred on himself as the one doing the activism. In his, and in turn, Brock McGillis' responses to the situation it is clear that they viewed this situation through their whiteness. Too often white queer people, specifically, white gay people are less radical in their LGBT rights activism than their POC counterparts. Brock McGillis, and by extension Kurtis Gabriel, have very clearly bought into a kind of respectability politics that shames public pressure as though public pressure is not the way so many battles in the LGBTQ rights movement were won. This comes from their whiteness because they have been brought up in a society where they belong and are shown that they belong since childhood. Meanwhile, queer people of colour and trans people have not been raised with the same sense of "belonging" to the culture and are thus more willing to push that culture in very specific ways to achieve their goals. Asking Brent Burns to say "trans rights are human rights" is in no way bullying. Talking over actual trans people in this situation because you don't agree with their tactics on the other hand shows a disrespect to the wants and needs of a community that you claim to be an ally to.

#hife #nhl #hockey #kurtis gabriel #brock mcgillis #hockey is for everyone #hockey is not for everyone #white gays

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